Chair



"March 7, 1944. s. J. GEDRIS 2,343,505

CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 30, 1940 Stanly LI: Gedris Patented Mar. 7,1944 CHAIR Stanley J. Gedris, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Original application November 30, 1940, Serial N 0. 367,903. Divided andthis application October 25, 1941, Serial No. 416,477

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs and more particularly to chairsof the theater type such as are installed in rows in motion picturehouses, opera houses, auditoriums and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a theater chairhaving improved means for attaching upholstering material to the chairback and for mounting the chair back on its supchair, the seat thereofbeing shown in a raised position of non-use;

Figure 2 is a view thereof shown partially in section taken on line 22of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View thereof taken onlines 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view through the topportion of the chair back;

Figure 5 is a sectional View similar to Figure 4 but showing a modifiedconstruction of the chair back;

Figure 6 is a, fragmentary front elevational view of the modified formof a chair back shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of securing means forattaching the marginal edge of chair back upholstery material to aperipheral rod; and

Figure 8 is a. fragmentary plan view of the securing means shown inFigure 7 prior to its application to the upholstery material.

Referring now in detail to this drawing wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals in the several views, the theater typechair there shown comprises a chair seat generally designated l and achair back generally designated l l independently mounted between andsupported by a pair of horizontally spaced vertically disposed chairsupporting standards l2 having arm rests l 3 secured thereto. Suchchairs are conventionally installed in rows, each standard l2 serving asa support for the two chairs on opposite sides thereof.

The chair back as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and

4 comprises a horizontally rearwardly bowedand vertically forwardlybowed metal back plate l4 having a continuous rearwardlyextending flangel at the? top and sidesthereof. IPadding l6 of cushioning material suchas cotton, hair or sponge rubber is disposed over the front surface ofthe back plate l4 andan upholstery sheet ll of suitable material such asfabric or leather covers the padding l6. An elongated semi-rigid membersuch as the rod orwire i3 is secured as by stitching l9 withinthecontinuous hem at the top and side margins of the upholstery sheet I1,and the continuous rearwardly extendin flange IS on the back plate It iscurled out.- wardly, forwardlyand then inwardly to form a pocket 2|embracing and firmly retaining therein the rod 18 and the hem 20 at thetop and side margins of the upholstery sheet ll '(seeFig- "ure 4) Therelatively wide side portions 22 of the rearwardly extending flange l5on the back plate M are secured to the supporting standards l2 as bymeans of bolts 23 extending through the side portions 22 of flanges ISon adjacent chair back plates l4 and through the supporting standard l2therebetween and provided. with nuts 24.. The chair back II as thusconstructed possesses sufficient flexibility to adapt itself to theangularly positioned standards in a curved row of chairs.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the means for securing theupholstery sheet to the back plate. In these views, the back plate 25 isprovided at the top and sides thereof with a continuous rearwardlyextending flange 26 which is curled outwardly, forwardly and theninwardly prior to the assembly of the chair back to form a pocket 21having a forward opening 28 of sufficient width to permit insertiontherein of a rod 29 and the hem 30 of an upholstery sheet 3| coveringthe padding 32. In this instance. a plurality of spaced clips 33 areprovided, each having a portion 34 secured to the back plate 25 and aspringable portion 35 extending into the pocket 21. These springableportions 35 of the clips 33 normally press forwardly and upwardly towardthe inwardly curled portion of the flange 26. It will be seen thatthespringable portions 35 of the clips 33 will yield to the positionindicated in dotted lines in Figure 5 when the rod 29 and hem 3B of theupholstery sheet 3| are inserted into the pocket 21, but after suchinsertion, these springable portions '35 of clips 33 spring forwardlyand upwardly to securely retain the rod 29 and the hem 3B of theupholstery sheet 3| within the pocket 21.

Figures '7 and 8 disclose modified means for securing a flexible sheetlike the upholstery sheet of the chair back previously described, to therod within the marginal edge of the sheet to eliminate stitching of thesheet. A thin sheet metal strip 36 is formed with wide portions 37 andnarrow connecting portions 38 as shown in Figure 8. The marginal edge ofthe flexible upholstery sheet 39 is folded over the rod 40, and the wideportions 31 of the metal strip 36 are then independently curled aroundboth the flexible sheet and the rod thus gripping the sheet between themetal strip 36 and the rod 40.

While but several specific embodiments of the invention have been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that certain details thereofmay be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of theinvention as the same is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a chair structure of the class described, a pair of horizontallyspaced vertically disposed chair supporting standards, a chair backsupported by said standards and comprising a back plate provided with acontinuous flange at the top and sides thereof extending rearwardly andthen curled outwardly, forwardly and inwardly to form a pocket, aplurality of clips each having a portion secured to the back plate and aspringable portion extending into said pocket and normally pressingforwardly-upwardly toward the inwardly curled portion of said flange,padding over the back plate, an upholstery sheet covering the padding, arod secured within a continuous hem at the top and side margins of theupholstery sheet, said rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet beinginserted within the pocket in the back plate, the springable portions ofsaid clips yielding to permit the insertion of the rod and the hem ofthe upholstery sheet into the pocket and springing forwardly-upwardly toretain the rod and the hem of the upholstery sheet within the pocketafter such insertion.

2. In combination, a sheet of covering material having an enlarged beadat its periphery, a body having a peripheral channel to receive saidbead,

said channel being larger in cross section than said head and having arestricted entrance throat at least as wide as the diameter of said beadand a plurality of clips attached to said body and having flexibleportions located within said channel and engageable with the inner edgeof said bead when said bead is inserted into said channel.

3. A sheet of covering material having an enlarged bead at itsperiphery, a body having a peripheral channel formed therein to receivesaid bead, said channel having a continuous entrance throat, a portionof said body being turned inwardly to restrict the width of saidentrance throat, a plurality of clips attached to said body at saidentrance throat opposite said inturned portion and having flexibleportions extending into said body and engageable with the inner edge ofsaid head when the bead is inserted into said channel.

4. The combination of elements defined in claim 3, combined withresilient padding material inserted between said body and said coveringmaterial, said beading being yieldable to permit insertion of said beadinto said channel and resilient to retain said bead in contact with saidclips.

5. In combination, a plate provided with acontinuous flange at itsperiphery extending rearwardly and then curled outwardly, forwardly andinwardly to form a channel having a continuous restricted throat, aplurality of clips each having a portion secured to the plate and aflexible portion extending inwardly into said channel and normallypressing toward the inwardly curled portion of the flange, an upholsterysheet covering the plate, an enlarged bead formed at the periphery ofsaid sheet, said bead being inserted into said channel, the flexibleportions of said clips engaging the inner edge of said bead.

6. The elements in combination of claim 5 in which said head comprises arod confined within a hem at the periphery of said upholstery sheet.

STANLEY J. GEDRIS.

